The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-05-05

Place first, plcco foremost, proudest,
best,
The nNmo horo cut, whose splendid
story,
Blown hencoward, North, East, South
and West
Remains your heritage Of glory!
*Tho four allegoric figures on the base
OF the monument represent Truth, JUS
ticc, The Constitution and History.
The bonediction was then pronounced
by the Rev. john O. Wilson and the
crowd dispersed.
THE sALUTE.
Tho Vice-President' salute OF nine
teen guns was fired at White Point Gar
den as tho statue was unveiled. The
firing was done by platoon of tie Cor
man Artillery, under the direction of
Major Geo. W. Bell, Of General Hugue-
nin's staff. Tho guns were handled by
| the veteran members of the corps, all of
whom paraded at tho Calhoun funeral
thlrty-sevcn years ago.
History of tho Monuments.
Various plans were set on foot for the
erection Of II monument that should be
worthy of Calhoun. In Charleston an
association Of the military and fire de-
partmcpt5 was organized and progressed
so successfully that i'll 1853 n charter was
obtained, 80 as to put the association on
q permanent basis. Tho funds collected
wero from time to timo turned over to
the Ladies' Association. Other urgani-
Zations were formed for the same Dur
pose, and made some progress in the
work. But it was reserved for the
( .IrIH inn ii l.px, L.,
tory have not only inspired her sons to
their best and bravcst deeds, but have
ever been ready themselves TO strive
with hand and heart for her honor, to
undertake and accomplish this sacred
duty, never forsaking their noble pur.
pose through the palmy days of peace,
the terrOrS Of war and the greater evils
of the years that followed.
On the 23d of january, 1854 eleven
ladies' met at the residence OF one of
their number in Charleston for the pur-
pose OF forming an association "to aid
the Calhoun Monument Association in
collecting sum sufficient TO build O
monument to the memory Of John G..
Calhoun. They proceeded st once to
organize, framed and adopted q consti-
tuition, i'll which the society was styled
the "LadiC5' Calhoun Monument Asso-
ciatlon," provided that any one might
become membCr or payment cE one
dollar into the treasury, elected officers,
and prepared circular to be distributed
to ladies i'll all parts Of the State, and
one especially addressed to the young
people, which wuB scnt to all Of the the
schools and colleges 'Uhe first officers
were Mrs. Esther Monk, president; Mrs
John NJ. Ilud,l and Mr%. Henry Gray,
vice presidents; Miss l.. b. ChccbbOr-
OUgh and Miss j. $. Porter, correspond
ing sccrctulies; Miss Mariu Chr,s sbor-
ou8h, recording secretary, and Mss NJ.
4. Yates, (l!terWuids Mis-. SnoNd den, J
treasurer. Mrs. MUEk removed from
Charleston q few months later, and Mrs.
! George Robertson became president,
and has held that oHico to the present
time. number Of ladies were also
elected "lirCctrCSScs, who were charged
with tho general curducE of the affairs Of
! the AssUci4liou and With tho special
! duty Of ChtuinimG contributions aul eX-
| teudinB the membership.
Ia 1896 the Association wuG iUCurpor-
atad, and the funds, which had been
carefully Invested, were transferred to
the corporate name. \ committee Of
prominent gentlemen were selected to
advise and aid the ladies in the manage
'ii|iiO o1 tiISiI hlA'tllEJ ana III lpDO UlCy
reported that the Association might safe
~ undertake the erection Of monu-
ment to cost $4,000.
THE LAYING or THE CORNERSTONE.
Tho 18th OF Juno, 1893, was appointed
, for the laying OF the cornerstone Of the
monument, and on that day IL splendid
procession, comprising the military, the
MuoUns and other civic societies, and
accompanied by the ladies Of the Asso-
ciation III carrmgcs, was formed Oh the
Battery under COmmulld OF the late
Gen. Wm. Il. Martin and marched to
the Citadel Square, where the corner
stone was laid, at Il point eighty feet
South Of the sallyport of the Citadel,
with Masonic ceremonies, conducted by
M. W. Grand Master Henry Buist. 1t
is frccstone block, two feet eight inches
wide, and one foot two inches deep, in
scribed:
The Cornerstone
of the
Calhoun Monument,